Legendary Music Artists Honored for Their Important Career Contributions

Thomas Dolby (left) and Steve Vai.

At the 2018 NAMM Show in January, Roland and BOSS presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to synth-pop and electronic music pioneer Thomas Dolby and guitar virtuoso, artist, and producer Steve Vai. These annual awards recognize innovative music artists for their important contributions to the industry while using Roland and/or BOSS gear throughout their careers. Dolby and Vai join an exclusive group that includes past recipients Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Andy Summers.

Roland’s new JUPITER-50 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Musikmesse last year, and though it sits at the cutting-edge of new technology, it’s a synth that sits firmly in line with Roland’s synth philosophy and history.

The JUPITER-50 is a streamlined version of the flagship JUPITER-80, and both instruments fit neatly into Roland’s 40-year story of pioneering synthesizer development. As the JUPITER name suggests, these new synths are related to one of the most iconic synth lines ever created—the genre-defining JUPITER-8.

Using the most innovative analog technologies of the time, the JUPITER-8 was released in 1981 and provided musicians with a rich palette of synth textures. Its reliability and ease of use on stage made it a go-to instrument for the electro crowd of the time. Its built-in arpeggiator and deep sonic potential satisfied the synth elite and awed countless Duran Duran fans. More